CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Jim Tom Stimpson of Sand Rock recently competed in the challenging Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race.  The event featured three days of running among the scenic trails and varied terrain surrounding Chattanooga.   

On the first day, June 17, the run consisted of 18 miles on Raccoon Mountain. Day two offered 22 miles incorporating Lulu Lake Land Trust and Covenant College on Lookout Mountain. Day three was a 20-mile grand finale on Signal Mountain.   

The three day segmented race brought an international field as well as athletes from Michigan, Texas, Oregon and a strong contingent of regional participants.  

Race organizers establish cut off times for each stage. The Raccoon Mountain segment had to be completed in five hours. The June 18 and June 19 runs had six-hour completion times.  

Stimpson had never participated in a trail race but was “very excited and, at the same time, very nervous” as he joined 170 other athletes at the starting line. He admitted that his training leading up to the stage race “has been spotty due to his hectic schedule.”  

Stimpson also noted that most of his preparation had been runs of six miles or less on the trails at Desoto State Park. 

“First, unless you are an elite runner, it’s not a race,” he said of the Tennessee event. “Second, make sure take your time and refuel at aid stations.  Third, going along with the first item, is to have patience.” 

Stimpson said running such distances requires the ability to resist the urge to run fast at the beginning and to use your head when running in such beautiful locations. 

“If you want to absorb the scenery then you need to stop running or you may trip and fall,” he said.  

Stimpson covered the first day’s run in 3 hours, 6 minutes, the second day in just over four hours, and the third day in 5 hours, 3 minutes. His overall time of 12 hours 27 minutes and 29 seconds placed him a respectable 78^th, about mid-pack. 

Right after crossing the finish line on the third day, Stimpson was asked if he would do it all over again. 

“Yes, just not today,” he said with a grin.